Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth follows a German professor and his nephew as they descend into an Icelandic volcano and encounter prehistoric animals, natural hazards and petrified trees, before coming to the surface again through an Italian volcano. Although many of Verne's ideas about what is found in the Earth's interior have long been disproved, the story is still hailed as a classic fantasy novel. It has been made into numerous films and television series - most recently a 3d version in 2008.
Whilst not quite as old as Verne's writing, Ursula Le Guin's The Tombs of Atuan is another highly regarded fatnatsy novel that was published in the early 1970's.
The second book in Le Guin's Earthsea series, The Tombs of Atuan introduces us to Tenar, a priestess who guards the catacombs of Atuan. Only she knows the passageways of this dark maze and only she can lead the young wizard Sparrowhawk to the greatest treasure of all...but will she?
Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures tells the story of real life nineteenth century fossil hunter Mary Anning.
Anning's discoveries of ancient marine reptiles shake the scientific community but because of her class and gender she struggles to be accepted as a legitimate scientist. A stunning historical novel.
You'll find copies of all these great titles in your local library, and many more suggestions for summer reads. Have fun reading beneath the surface!
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